DNA evidence links prominent republican Colin Duffy to the murder of two soldiers by the Real IRA outside a Northern Ireland Army base earlier this month, a court was told.

Duffy was remanded in custody charged with the murders of Sappers Mark Quinsey, 23, of Highters Heath, Birmingham, and Patrick Azimkar, 21, of London, who were shot dead at the gates of Massereene Barracks on Saturday March 7 while they collected pizzas from delivery men.

The District Judge at Larne Magistrates' Court said Duffy should reappear via video link at Antrim Magistrates' Court on April 21.

The republican, from Lurgan, Co Armagh, was also charged with five counts of attempted murder - of three soldiers and two delivery men - and possession of arms and ammunition with intent.

Duffy appeared in the dock handcuffed to a police officer and more than half a dozen armed police stood around the small courtroom.

High-level security was also in place outside the court and on roads throughout the seaside town.

Detective Chief Inspector Jeffrey Smyth told the court that DNA evidence found in the car used by the killers in their getaway linked Duffy to the killings.

He said: "This is not trace elements - this is a full DNA profile.

"It was inside a latex glove found on the floor of the Vauxhall Cavalier."